2.10.2015

Well, hello there! Life has been busy...but I just wanted to pop in to post a couple of layouts from 2014 I found while cleaning up the other day! Both are using photos I took while visiting family in upstate New York!

12.11.2014

12.09.2014

I really don’t have fantastic Christmas
decorations. Well, I have a teensy
little tree (I think it is three feet tall) that I’ve put up almost every year
for the past ten years or so. I have a beautiful little nativity set that my mom bought for me when she lived in Germany, and a small silver tree with tiny little ornaments from my childhood.

There are a few little odds and ends, a box of ornaments from my childhood that may or may not get used, a string of lights and that’s about it.

I’ve always put off buying a bigger tree and
different ornaments/decorations. When I
started thinking about it last week, I couldn’t figure out why, except that I
was waiting. Waiting for what? Probably a bigger house, a husband,
kids. I know for several years I moved around a bit, so the idea of moving a bunch of Christmas decorations didn’t
sound like fun. I’m tired of
waiting. So, I made a plan. It probably won’t happen this year, but I’m
going to be shopping those after Christmas sales for sure. Next year, it’s on.

I’ve “inherited” my Mom’s Spode Christmas
dishes. Inherited in quotes, because she’s
alive and kicking. But a couple of years
ago when she made the great move up north, she passed them along. While there aren’t full place settings, there
are several serving dishes and I think they make a great starting point. I’m going simple and classic.

Not a bad start, huh? I'm on the fence about the two different green bulbs, and if I do the pom-pom garland, I wouldn't include white. We will see. I've always loved mercury glass and can't help but to include them on my wish list. Whether I'll find the ornaments or trees at a price I won't balk at (those shown here are from Pottery Barn) will be the trick. The star tree topper may be too rustic, but I liked how unique it was. And I'll need a tree skirt.

First up, find that tree. In the little bit of shopping around I've done for an artificial tree, I've discovered I'm pretty particular about how it looks, which means a higher price. So, it may very well be an after-Christmas sale event. We will see!

Edited to AddYa'll - I just stumbled upon these two things on super clearance from West Elm. $13 per strand for the pom-pom strands (which is about half price for what I've been able to find and those I would have to sew together myself) and $15 for the star.

12.01.2014

It’s that time of year. It’s a time full of family, expectations,
love, laughter and moments that will be remembered for a lifetime. For some it’s also a time full of sadness,
despair, loneliness, hurt and suffering.

For me personally, Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year’s Eve are bittersweet. I want
so desperately to be free enough to enjoy the smithereens out of the
moment. To create new memories and
traditions, to not have unrealistic expectations, to not yearn for something
different, to not be disappointed. I
find myself once again in that place.
Having to remind myself that there is so much good in my world. There is happiness and joy and fun. Yet somehow there is a shadow that lurks in
the corner. I’ve always blamed it on
being single. Last year, though, I was
with someone I loved. And the struggle
was so much less. I was happy and content,
even though there were times when our relationship was rocky. This year, I feel vulnerable and weak as I
struggle with heartbreak, and every day I fight to keep the darkness in its
little box.

I spent the holiday and weekend with some of my
best friends. We laughed, ate, drank and
sat in contented silence together. It
was perfect in so many ways. But still,
in the wee hours of the morning, the sadness crept in.

I know I am not alone in this. I am not unique. And even as I write this I can’t help but
remind myself that life is still good.
But life is also about honesty. So,
here’s my story, written and published in the hope that if someone else is in
the same situation, they know they are not alone. And it is okay.

Even in that place, I’m so incredibly thankful.

Thankful for friends and family who listen and
hold my hand

For laughter that makes my sides hurt and my
eyes water

For delicious food that brings delight and
temporary comfort

For peace, even in the midst of turmoil

For stability, when for so many years stability
didn’t exist

For security, held in my own hands and not
someone else’s

For tiniest bit of hope in the future, even when
I can’t even imagine what that future holds

For the memory of who I am, even if I’ve
strayed

For rejuvenation and a plan of action

It’s all there.It’s a beautiful world and I’m going to keep reminding myself of it
every single day.

11.11.2014

Happy Tuesday! I found a couple of layouts this weekend that I guess I never shared here. Both are a different style than what I typically do, but experimenting is always good! And apparently I'm all about saying "hello" :)

11.05.2014

I haven't fallen off the scrapbooking wagon completely. I was organizing my patterned paper and had this photo off to the side from another project. And suddenly, I was making a page! The patterned paper just seemed to speak to me. I particularly liked painting those wood veneer letters to work with the other colors...and you know I can't resist a good polka-dot! :)